Gurugram: Cushman & Wakefield has announced the appointment of Sona Aggarwal as Managing Director, Head of Retail Sales and Strategy, Asia Pacific, a newly created role based in Singapore. Sona’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as the firm intensifies its investments in the regional retail platform to deliver enhanced value to clients across Asia Pacific and globally.
Bringing over 25 years of experience in global brand management and retail operations, Sona has launched and operated more than 200 stores across the region and led cross-border teams of over 1,300 professionals. With deep category expertise in apparel, beauty, healthcare, watches, and home furnishings, her global exposure and insights into consumer engagement and market-specific strategies will play a pivotal role in strengthening Cushman & Wakefield’s retail footprint in APAC.
“This is a significant appointment for our retail business in Asia Pacific,” said Anshul Jain, Chief Executive – India, SEA & APAC Tenant Representation. “Sona’s client-side perspective, having worked with iconic global retail brands, brings a competitive edge to our retail platform. Her vast experience and leadership in the retail sector will be instrumental in deepening client partnerships as well as driving and unlocking new growth opportunities for our retail business across the region.”
In her role, Sona will spearhead the firm’s APAC retail strategy, focusing on expanding the client portfolio, enhancing service excellence, and driving sustainable, long-term business growth. She will also lead efforts to bolster cross-border collaboration, bridging Cushman & Wakefield’s global retail expertise with local market intelligence to deliver tailored solutions.
“I’m excited to take on this role during such a transformational time for the retail industry,” said Sona Aggarwal. “Cushman & Wakefield’s blend of market intelligence and global operational scale puts us in a unique position to help clients navigate change and achieve outcomes that meet their business objectives. I look forward to working closely with our teams across the 60 countries that we operate in around the world to reinforce our position as a thought leader and more importantly, a trusted advisor to our clients in the consumer space.”
Highlighting the immense opportunities in the region, Sona added, “Retail has never been more dynamic; the world order is shifting not just geo-politically but demographically and psychographically as well. This exciting shift is creating a world of opportunities for the APAC region. Demographically, we have a growing middle class, rapid urbanization and a young population with high digital adoption, driving robust consumption and interest in local, regional and global brands.”
“I see tremendous potential both inbound as well as outbound to and from APAC. The Asian consumer is becoming more sophisticated; there is a growth in demand for aspirational entertainment and lifestyle brands across all categories. The Western consumer is appreciating Asian health and beauty, wellness and aesthetics, hospitality and Food & Beverage (F&B). There is also growth in tech-driven sectors like Auto/EV. Furthermore, the significant increase in high net-worth wealth transfer into the region has made it essential for financial institutions to create differentiated experiences for their private wealth clients. With these evolving trends, I aim to leverage our talent, expertise and data insights, and combine them with our deep local operational knowledge to provide differentiated and customized solutions to all our clients,” added Sona.
